360° Degree Camera feature is now FREE! Free Trial Extended to Permanent*!

[RedOctobrrr]

***Note: I have a 2023 Select model in which I did not pay the $1900 subscription to Blue Cruise and 360° Camera at time of purchase.***

I have bitched about this many times, unhappy that Ford went the paywall trend and hid the 360° Camera behind a subscription service. It's installed hardware, big F you to any manufacturer who hides things like heated seats behind a subscription service fee.

My subscription has not yet run out for both Blue Cruise and 360° Camera, but today, I was pleased to see that my "trial" for the cameras was permanently extended* !!!

Of course, there's an asterisk, but still... This is one huge step forward in morals and ethics.

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[4sallypat]

Is this for a '23 Select ?

 

[macchiaz-o]

Very nice.

 

[RedOctobrrr]

Is this for a '23 Select ?

That is correct! I did not opt for the $1900 three-year subscription, I was gonna ride out the free trial and then bitch about the 360° Camera some more lol...

 

[MachEMaster]

What about the people who payed the $1900 add on?........Doh!

 

[Thunderanger]

Do 2021 Selects come equipped with this?

 

[Logal727]

I mean, if it helps them build vehicles quicker I don’t see the problem for paywalling features that others paid more for

 

[macchiaz-o]

Do 2021 Selects come equipped with this?

It was available through a factory option package:

 

[RedOctobrrr]

What about the people who payed the $1900 add on?........Doh!

You get a very expensive Blue Cruise subscription!

 

[RedOctobrrr]

I mean, if it helps them build vehicles quicker I don’t see the problem for paywalling features that others paid more for

I don't understand this logic. They installed the hardware... and you're saying they should make activating installed hardware a subscription service... because...?

 

[Bmr4MachE]

I don't understand this logic. They installed the hardware... and you're saying they should make activating installed hardware a subscription service... because...?

Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you get free access to it.

Like they said, it’s easier to build all vehicles the same but unlock features to those that paid for them. For example, a optional part may cost them $5 more to put on but the change over or keeping track of whether it was ordered or not on the production line is worth more than that $5. So they just put the part in all the vehicles and let the customer unlock them. Now multiply that across a ton of optional parts per vehicle and the simplicity gain increases.

This is where everything electronic is headed. Especially stuff that is strongly software related.

 

[Mach1E]

I don't understand this logic. They installed the hardware... and you're saying they should make activating installed hardware a subscription service... because...?

Because they can.

Honestly kinda shocked they’re giving it away.

And yeah, does kinda suck for those who paid for it.

I am happy paying for ice cream……. Until I find out everyone else gets their ice cream for FREE!

 

[ThatGuyLando]

Permanently*. That asterisk is concerning, hopefully they don't go full elon with this.

 

[yngwenli]

I can understand anything they have to keep updating (like Blue Cruise/maps) or requires resources (if a dash cam option which uploads to cloud storage) would charge a fee, but they should just charge upfront 1 time for the 360 camera rather than a trial.

Not really a fan of nickle and dimeing customers. I guess I'll see what happens after Blue Cruise expires in 3 years. I'd probably not subscribe due to my limited driving overall and general dislike of having subscriptions, but I use it regularly.

 

[RedOctobrrr]

Permanently*. That asterisk is concerning, hopefully they don't go full elon with this.

Updated title lol

I can understand anything they have to keep updating (like Blue Cruise/maps) or requires resources (if a dash cam option which uploads to cloud storage) would charge a fee, but they should just charge upfront 1 time for the 360 camera rather than a trial.

Not really a fan of nickle and dimeing customers. I guess I'll see what happens after Blue Cruise expires in 3 years. I'd probably not subscribe due to my limited driving overall and general dislike of having subscriptions, but I use it regularly.

I'm right there with you. If you do use the Blue Cruise, it's likely going to be much cheaper than the initial Select subscription of $1900 / 3yr. We'll see when people start renewing the subscription but many are speculating it'll be about $200/yr. That seems reasonable enough. I should know very soon as my 3mo trial is set to end early March.

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